Swab

Abstract

This patent application discloses a swab mandrel having thereon a swab with reinforcing wires imbedded at approximately the mid-point of the wall of the swab for a substantial distance to permit the swab to have fluid film lubrication with the tubing in which the wires at the upper end of the swab are approximately at the outer diameter of the swab and are sled shaped to bridge couplings in a tubing. The swab further has a restraining ring around the lower end thereof which supports the body of resilient material and restrains outward movement but is spaced from the wires to permit the wires to move radially outward a limited distance. To insure that a proper support is provided for the swab both above and below a special two piece support is provided for engagement with the bottom of the swab and with the top of the reinforcing wires.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A swab cup comprising, a sleeve shaped body of resilient material with circumferentially spaced reinforcing wires, all of said wires spaced inwardly from the outer diameter of the body along a major portion of its length to permit the body to have fluid film lubrication with a tubing, said wires at their upper sections having sled portions at the outer diameter of the cup for engaging the wall of a tubing and bridging couplings in the tubing, and   a restraining ring at the lower end of the cup limiting radial movement of the wires within the ring while permitting limited outward movement of the wires above the ring.   
     
     
       2. The cup of claim 1 in combination with a lower support having a sleeve section in said body and a flange section extending rigidly outward from the sleeve and engaging the lower surface of said ring. 
     
     
       3. The cup of claim 2 in combination with an upper support having a sleeve section in said body and a flange section extending rigidly outward from the sleeve and overlying the upper ends of said wires. 
     
     
       4. The cup of claims 1, 2 or 3 in combination with a swab mandrel. 
     
     
       5. The cup of claim 1 wherein the radial dimension of the body outside said wires at said major portion of its length and the radial dimension of said wires is substantially equal and the radial dimension of the body inside the wires is approximately two-thirds the radial dimension of the wires. 
     
     
       6. The cup of claim 1 wherein the wires extend the full length of the body. 
     
     
       7. A swab cup comprising, a sleeve-shaped body of resilient material,   a plurality of wires extending lengthwise of and equally spaced about the body, each wire having a lower portion extending through a substantial length of the body at approximately the radial mid-point of the wall of the body, and an intermediate portion at the upper section of the body with its outer surface approximately in a plane tangent to the outer surface of the body, and an upper portion angled inwardly, and   a rigid ring surrounding the lower end of the body and the lower ends of the wires and spaced radially from the wires to permit limited outward movement of the wires.   
     
     
       8. The cup of claim 7 in combination with a lower support having a sleeve section in said body and a flange section extending radially outward from the sleeve and engaging the lower surface of said ring. 
     
     
       9. The cup of claim 8 in combination with an upper support having a sleeve section in said body and a flange section extending radially outward from the sleeve and overlying the upper ends of said wires. 
     
     
       10. The cup of claims 7, 8 or 9 in combination with a swab mandrel. 
     
     
       11. The cup of claim 7 wherein the radial dimension of the lower portion of said wires and the material of the body outside the wires is substantially equal and the material of the body inside the wires is approximately two-thirds the radial dimension of the wires. 
     
     
       12. The cup of claim 7 wherein the wires extend the full length of the body. 
     
     
       13. A swab cup comprising, a plurality of equally spaced reinforcing wires arranged in a circle,   each wire having a lower section extending upwardly, a lower intermediate section extending outwardly, an upper intermediate section extending upwardly, and an upper section extending inwardly,   a sleeve-like body of resilient material covering substantially all of the lower sections of the wires with the wire imbedded at approximately the mid-point of the wall of the body,   and a ring of reinforcing material surrounding the lower end of said body and the lower end of each wire and spaced from each wire to permit limited radial expansion of said wires,   said ring and body thereabove having approximately the same diameter as the upper intermediate section of said wires.   
     
     
       14. The cup of claim 13 in combination with a lower support having a sleeve section in said body and a flange section extending radially outward from the sleeve and engaging the lower surface of said ring. 
     
     
       15. The cup of claim 14 in combination with an upper support having a sleeve section in said body and a flange section extending radially outward from the sleeve and overlying the upper ends of said wires. 
     
     
       16. The cup of claims 13, 14 or 15 in combination with a swab mandrel. 
     
     
       17. The cup of claim 13 wherein the radial dimension of the lower section of said wires and the material of the body outside said section of the wires is substantially equal and the material of the body inside the wires is approximately two-thirds the radial dimension of the wires. 
     
     
       18. The cup of claim 13 wherein the wires extend the full length of the body. 
     
     
       19. A swab cup comprising, a sleeve shaped body of resilient material with circumferentially spaced reinforcing wires spaced inwardly from the outer diameter of the body along a major portion of its length to permit the body to have fluid film lubrication with a tubing,   said wires at their upper sections having sled portions at the outer diameter of the cup for engaging the wall of a tubing and bridging couplings in the tubing, and   a restraining ring at the lower end of the cup having a circumferentially extending surface which limits radial outward movement of said wires.   
     
     
       20. The cup of claim 19 wherein the wires are spaced from said surface and move radially outward until restrained by said surface and then pivot about said surface. 
     
     
       21. The cup of claim 19 wherein said wires pivot about said surface.